4. Earth's Two Representatives - Pastor Stephen Bohr - The 24 Elders

[Music] [Music] you shall we bow our heads for prayer Father in heaven what a joy it is to come into your presence to open the pages of your holy book and to hear your voice speaking to us through the Ministry of the Holy Spirit we ask father that as we open your word that reverent hands might handle it in a way that we can understand what your will is and what you want us to understand we thank you for the privilege of coming before your throne in prayer we know that you have heard us because we ask it in the precious name of Jesus amen well in our study today we are going to take a look at the identity of the 24 elders now the first part of this we studied last time so we need to do a little bit of review I see some new people here today praise the Lord we're very glad to have you now some of the things that I'm going to say are going to appear a little bit strange for those who weren't here for the first presentation on the 24 elders however bear with me and as we go along things will become clearer and clearer reviewing from last time you remember that at creation the morning stars and the sons of God shouted for joy this tells us that the sons of God in the morning stars existed before the creation of this world now we also noticed that in job chapter 2 as well as in chapter 1 we find these sons of God coming to a meeting in heaven in the presence of God and we notice that these sons of God that are spoken of in job 1 and 2 actually are the representatives of the worlds that never sinned in other words there are many many worlds in God's universe that are filled with living creatures with individuals who have never committed sin they're absolutely holy and righteous and each one of these worlds have a representative in the heavenly council we also noticed in our study that Ellen White identifies the 24 elders as strong angels in another place she calls them the highest angels now we noticed in our study that in job chapter 1 and also chapter 2 Satan came to this heavenly meeting among the sons of God and the question is what was Satan doing there among the sons of God in the heavenly Council when he was such a discordant note there the answer is that the original representative of planet Earth was Adam but as we know the devil conquered Adam and when the devil was able to overcome him the devil stole his throne and stole his position and Satan became the representative of planet Earth that's the reason why in job 1 and 2 Satan went among the sons of God that is all of the representatives of the worlds Satan went representing planet Earth now we also talked about God's original plan for the human race we noticed that the creation of man and woman was a new and distinct order of creation by God we noticed that it was God's purpose that the human race reproduce multiply and the purpose of multiplying was that a holy race would take the places of Satan and his angels that fell from heaven in other words those who would reproduce on planet Earth would actually repopulate heaven which had been depleted by the fall of Satan and his angels we also noticed that God's plan was that human beings once they passed the test and the trial would become equal to the angels and we proved that from Scripture from Luke chapter 22 when Jesus was talking with the Sadducees about the resurrection there's a clear passage that Jesus clearly teaches what I've shared now in our study today we want to begin by talking about the original representative from Planet Earth and of course that original representative of planet Earth before sin was none less than Adam now we're going to notice several characteristics about Adam when he was created by God first of all and this is very obvious but I want to prove every point from Scripture and from the spirit of prophecy Adam was a created being he was created by God notice Genesis chapter 1 in verses 26 and 27 let's not take anything for granted Genesis 1:26 and 27 then God said let us make man in our image according to our likeness let them have dominion over the fish of the sea over the birds of the air and over the cattle over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth verse 27 so God created man in his own image in the image of God he created him male and female he created them so I think it's very clear that man was originally created by God and it took place after God had created the heavenly intelligences because they sang at creation now Ellen White confirms this idea that Adam was created by God I don't think that I need to read any quotations from her writings patriarchs and prophets the second chapter makes this absolutely clear so Adam was created by God the second point that I want us to notice about Adam is that Adam when he was created he was called the Son of God in Luke chapter 3 and verse 38 we have the conclusion of the genealogy of Christ and the genealogy in Luke three verse 38 by saying the son of Enosh the son of Seth the son of Adam the Son of God so you notice that Adam is called the son of God not by procreation but by creation now Ellen White confirms this idea that Adam when he was created he was called the son of God because God created him in patriarchs and prophets page 45 we find the following statement about Adam being the son of God she says the genealogy of our race as given by inspiration traces back its origin not to a line of developing germs mollusks and quadrupeds but to the Great Creator though formed from the dust Adam was the son of God he was placed as God's representative over the lower orders of being so clearly the Bible and the spirit of prophecy tell us that Adam was created by God also that Adam when he was created was called the son of God now another interesting detail about Adam the original representative from Planet Earth in the Hannah Lee council we are told that he was crowned at creation as king over this earth notice Psalm 8 and verses 3 through 8 Psalm 8 and verses 3 through 8 here the psalmist says when I consider your heavens the work of your fingers the moon and the stars which you have ordained what is man that you are mindful of him and the son of man that you visit him for you have made him a little lower than the Angels notice that speaking about the creation of Adam you have made him a little lower than the Angels and now notice this and you have crowned him with glory and honor was man crowned at the very beginning absolutely now every King has a real of Dominion what was the realm of Dominion of this King Adam who was crowned at creation continues saying you have made him to have dominion that means rulership over the works of your hands you have put all things under his feet an expression that means you have placed him to rule over everything and then it explains all sheep and oxen even the beasts of the field the birds of the air and the fish of the seed that passed through the paths of the sea now in the Old Testament when this expression is used beasts of the field birds of the air and fish of the sea it means everything relating to planet Earth heaven dry land and seas in other words Adam was crowned and he was placed as king over this planet and everything relating to the planet Ellen White confirms what we just read from Psalm 8 in review and Herald February 24 1874 she makes this remarkable statement Adam was crowned as king in Eden to him was given dominion over every living thing that God had created the Lord blessed Adam and Eve with intelligence such as he had not given to the animal creation he made Adam the rightful sovereign over all the works of his hands so notice Adam was crowned he was created he was called the son of God and he was crowned as king and he was placed to have dominion over this planet now another detail that I want us to notice about Adam is that Adam and Eve had a particular type of clothing that covered them at creation now you say what do you mean clothing the Bible says that they were naked well let's take a closer look at this in Genesis chapter 2 in verse 25 the Bible tells us that Adam and Eve were naked but what the text is really saying is that they were naked with regards to artificial human guard it's made out of human materials actually the Bible tells us that they were covered with garments of light such as God and the angels where let me read you a statement that we find in patriarchs and prophets page 45 where Ellen White describes the covering of Adam and Eve this is what she says the sinless pair wore no artificial garments they were clothed with a covering of light and glory such as the Angels wear that's an important detail so the garments of Adam and Eve were the same garments that are worn by whom by the Angels remember that that's important so once again she says thus in despair were no artificial garments they were clothed with a covering of light and glory such as the Angels wear so long as they lived in obedience to God this robe of light continued to enshroud them incidentally do you know that this is the same garment that covers God do you know that that garments that God wears are also white garments of light notice Psalm 104 where we find this clearly revealed in Scripture Psalm 104 and we want to read verses 1 & 2 it says there bless the Lord O my soul O Lord my God you are very great you are clothed with honor and Majesty who know analysis who cover yourself with light as with the garment who stretch out the heavens like a curtain in fact if you read Daniel 7 and verse 9 that speaks about the beginning of the judgment in heaven we are told that the Ancient of Days was clothed in white garments those garments are garments of light in fact the Bible tells us that God dwells in light unapproachable we're told in the New Testament incidentally the true church in Revelation chapter 12 and verse 1 the pure righteous church is represented as a woman who is clothed with the Sun you see the clothing is clothing of light in light is white so we notice then that Adam and Eve were covered with a robe of white garments of light now another detail that I want us to notice about Adam and we're talking about Adam particularly because he was the head and representative of the race I want to read you several statements where the spirit of prophecy tells us that Adam was the original father head and representative of the human race of the entire human family in other words he represented planet Earth as the king of this realm patriarchs and prophets page 48 we might just read one now because time flies by it says there in Eden God set up the memorial of his work of creation in placing his blessing upon the seventh day now listen the Sabbath was committed to Adam the father and representative of the whole human family what was Adam he was the head and representative of the whole human family don't forget that because that's a very important detail for what we're gonna talk about a little bit later on do you know that the Bible also corroborates this idea that is expressed in patriarchs and prophets page 48 even though God created Adam and Eve and Eve sinned first the Bible tells us that God held Adam accountable for sin and the Bible tells us that Jesus is the second Adam he is not the second Eve in other words Adam was placed as the head and the representative of the human race this has a lot to say also about the women's ordination debate that's going on now in many churches in in Christendom so I want you to notice then all of these details that we've studied about Adam because we are going to come back to them a little bit later on now let's transition to revelation chapter 4 in chapter 5 and let's study a little more details about a few more details about the beings that were present there in the scene of Revelation 4 in Revelation 5 now this will be review because we studied this last time if you remember revelation 4 the heavenly throne room is being prepared for the return of Jesus to heaven upon his ascension and you remember that president they're preparing to receive Jesus at his ascension were several beings first of all there was the father who was sitting on the throne secondly the seven spirits were before the throne representing the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the third place we noticed that there were four living creatures in the midst of the throne that represents Seraphim and finally we noticed that surrounding the throne were twenty-four elders those were the beings that were present in Revelation chapter 4 but in Revelation 4 there were also certain beings that were absent in Revelation 4 the angelic hosts were not there also Jesus Christ was not there in Revelation chapter 4 in other words as we look at revelation 4 we say where was Jesus and where was the heavenly host of angels well the fact is that when you get to Revelation 5 Jesus actually arrives in heaven and he arrives with all of the hosts of angels as we studied and then Jesus and the angelic host joined the scene in heaven and of course Jesus goes into the presence of his father to make sure that his sacrifice had been accepted by his father now let's talk about the 24 elders that were around the throne before Jesus arrived and also after Jesus arrived we've already noticed that the sons of God according to the spirit of prophecy are angels the representatives of the worlds are now I know that that surprised a lot of people last time but allow me to read you that statement from great controversy once again page 518 about the sons of God because the 24 elders really are the sons of God they are the representatives of the worlds that never sinned notice what she says great controversy 5:18 the Scriptures declare that upon one occasion when the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord Satan came also among them not to bow before the eternal King but to further his own malicious designs against the righteous with the same object he is in attendance when men assemble for the worship of God did you notice that in the book of Job it says that the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord Ellen White says that on a certain occasion the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord interesting so in other words the sons of God are to be related to the Angels in some way but let me make something clear the sons of God are not members of the common angelic hosts they are distinguished from the common hosts of ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of angels you say how do we know that let's go to Revelation chapter 5 in verses 11 and 12 revelation 5 11 12 I want you to notice that these sons of God or these angels as Ellen White identifies them are actually distinguished from the tremendous hosts of millions and millions of angels they're not part of the general angelic hosts notice revelation 5 verse 11 then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne now listen carefully around the throne the living creatures and the elders question are the many angels distinguished from the elders yes they are once again then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne the living creatures and the elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and blessing so the question is are the elders different than the angelic hosts yes they are but are they angels yes they are angels we notice that Ellen White identifies them as strong angels and as the highest angels now let's look at the characteristics of the 24 elders so that we can specify a little bit more and understand a little bit better what we're studying let's go to Revelation chapter 4 and verse 4 and notice several characteristics about the 24 elders it says there in Revelation chapter 4 and verse 4 and round about the throne were four and 20 seats a better translation is Thrones and upon the seats or Thrones I saw four and twenty elders what position were they in sitting clothed in what in white raiment and they had on their heads what crowns of gold interesting so you have these beings the 24 elders they're sitting on Thrones they're clothed in white garments and they have crowns of gold on their heads and incidentally they are also created beings according to Revelation chapter 4 in verses 10 and 11 now some people have assumed that these characteristics disqualify the 24 elders from being angels because they say well you know in the book of Revelation it's the reason redeemed that are clothed in white it's the redeemed that have crowns and Jesus has a crown but nowhere do you find in the spirit of prophecy or in the Bible the idea that the 24 elders actually our angels rather than human beings the characteristics would seem to reveal that the 24 elders are actually human and not angelic well hasty conclusions sometimes are risky allow me first of all to read you a statement from Ellen White where she describes the 24 elders she says in desire of Ages we read this quotation before speaking about those who are present when Jesus arrives in heaven the commanders of the angel hosts the sons of God the representatives of the unfallen worlds are assembled so notice she uses three different phrases to describe this group she says the commanders of the angel hosts the sons of God the representatives of the unfallen worlds are assembled and then she says the heavenly council we spoke about this last time before which Lucifer had accused God in his son the representatives of those sinless realms over which Satan had thought to establish his Dominion all are there to welcome the Redeemer now can we show from Scripture and from the spirit of prophecy that the Angels have the characteristics that the 24 elders have can we prove that the angels are created beings can we prove that the Angels at least the 24 elders sit on Thrones and a rule can we prove that they have crowns on their heads and that they are robed in white garments the answer is absolutely yes go with me to Colossians chapter 1 verse 16 first of all we're going to talk about the angels whether they were created or not it says there in Colossians chapter 1 and verse 16 speaking about Jesus the Creator it says for by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth would that include the twenty for elders absolutely whether Thrones or dominions or principalities or powers notice different ranks of rulers Thrones dominions or principalities or powers all things were created through him and for him Ellen White corroborates this idea in review and Herald April 5 1906 she says before men or angels were created the Word was with God and the Word was God so are the Angels created beings like the twenty-four elders they most certainly are now you say do the angels wear crowns absolutely and you know one of the arguments that is used against the idea that the 24 elders could be angels is that the word for crowns that is used here for the 24 elders is the Greek word stefanos and and theologians say well stefanos means the crown of a person who has gained the victory so how can you say that the 24 elders are angels they haven't gained the victory they never sinned so how do we resolve this problem of the word stefanos being used for the Crown's that the 24 elders have and not say that they were victorious over sin those who assume that the 24 elders are those who resurrected with Jesus and Jesus took to heaven they say they had to be human beings because they wear the Crown's of the victor the stefanos are you understanding my point however even though usually the word stefanos is used for the crown of a victor it is not always used in that way in Scripture let me give you a couple of examples Matthew chapter 27 and verse 29 speaks about the crown that was placed on the head of Christ the crown of thorns it says there in Matthew 27 29 when they had twisted a crown of thorns they put it on his head that word crown there is the word stefanos do you think that that those who were placing this crown on the head of Jesus were saying that Jesus was the victor of course not they were just saying hey this is the king your king the king of the Jews it continues saying when they had twisted a crown of thorns they put it on his head and read in his right hand and they bowed the knee before him and mocked him saying hail King of the Jews and so here the word stefanos is used for a king simply a king another example we find in Revelation chapter 14 and verse 14 the same word stefanos is used not for a victor but it's used for a king notice revelation 14 verse 14 this is speaking about Jesus sitting on a cloud it says then I looked and we usually apply this to the second coming of Christ then I looked and behold a white cloud and on the cloud sat.1 like the Son of man having on his head a golden what a golden crown that's the stefanos and here in his hand a sharp sickle so the word stefanos generally refers to the victors crown but not always just because stefanos is used for the 24 elders does not necessarily mean that they were victorious over sin and that they were human beings now do you know that there are many statements from ellen white where she says that the angels use crowns allow me to read you several of those statements the first one is found in early writings page 148 speaking about man's fall she says the news of man's fall spread through heaven every harp was hushed the angels cast their crowns from their heads in sorrow early writings page 167 when Jesus was suffering in the Gethsemane Ellen White says there was no joy in heaven the Angels cast their crowns in harps from them with the deepest interest silently watched Jesus early writings page 191 speaking about the Ascension of Christ to heaven she says then all of the heavenly hosts surrounded their majestic commander and with the deepest adoration bowed before him and cast their glittering crown and his feet early writing spacious 279 and 280 speaking about the close of probation she says and all the angelic hosts laid off their crowns as Jesus made the solemn declaration he that is unjust let him be unjust still he which is filthy let him be filthy still and he that is righteous let him be righteous still and he that is holy let him be holy still one final reference at the second coming of Christ early writings page 286 Ellen White says a retinue of holy angels with bright glittering crowns upon their heads escorted him on his way no language can describe the glory of the scene our angels created beings yes do angels wear crowns yes now what kind of garments cover angels well let's notice Matthew chapter 28 we won't read it because of the scarcity of time but if you want to read it on your own you can Matthew 28 verse 3 tells us that the angel that came down from heaven to resurrect Christ his garments were white as snow in Acts chapter 1 and verse 10 we're told that the two angels that came and spoke to the disciples as Jesus was ascending to heaven they were clothed in white garments so do angels wear white garments don't assume that just because the twenty-four elders wear white garments all the twenty-four elders you know they they can't be angels they have to be human beings because in Revelation human beings are the ones that are there garb in white don't just assume that early writings page 181 ellen white confirms that the angels wear white garments she says regarding the angel who came to resurrect Christ I quote his face was like the lightning and his garments white as snow spirit of prophecy vol 3 pages 200 and 201 Ellen White is talking about the angels that came to the tomb of Jesus she says as she stood weeping that is Mary she stooped down to once more look into the sepulchre and lo there were two angels clothed in garments of white and patriarchs and prophets page 45 which we already read ellen white speaks about the clothes that covered Adam and Eve she says the sinless pair wore no artificial garments they were clothed with a covering of light and glory such as the Angels wear let me ask you our Angels also representatives of the worlds that never sinned yes job one and two Ellen White says that those who came to present themselves before the Lord were angels so they represent worlds that never sinned now I want to read you a passage that I read once before this is a long passage from the book desire of Ages actually it's the last three pages of desire of Ages where Ellen White is simply describing the Ascension of Christ and what took place as Jesus was ascending and once Jesus arrived and I must warn you that many times Ellen White does not use the biblical terminology but she is commenting on things in Scripture but she doesn't use the language of Scripture because she's actually interpreting the symbols of Scripture in matter of fact language this passage is found in desire of Ages 833 - 8:35 she says all heaven was waiting to welcome the Savior to the celestial courts as he assented he led the way and the multitude of captives now we talked about those right those who resurrected with Jesus are they ascending with Christ yes that's important and the multitude of captives set free at his resurrection followed now notice the heavenly hosts who are those the angels with shouts and acclamation of praise and celestial song attended the joyous train as they drew near to the City of God the challenge is given by the escorting angels lift up your heads o ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in joyfully the waiting sentinels respond who is this King of glory this they say not because they know not who we but because they would hear the answer of exalted praise the Lord strong and mighty the Lord mighty in battle lift up your heads o ye gates even lift them up ye everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in again is heard the challenge who is this King of glory for the Angels never weary of hearing his name exalted the escorting angels make reply the Lord of Hosts he is the king of glory then the portals of the City of God are opened wide and the angelic throng noticed the reason why the angels are not there in chapter 4 is because they've gone to pick up Jesus they're ascending to heaven with Christ she says then the portals of the City of God are open wide and the angelic throng sweep through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music and now listen who's there when Jesus goes in to the Holy Place she says there is the throne did we find that in Revelation chapter 4 the throne yes and around it the rainbow of promise did we see that in Revelation 4 absolutely there are cherubim and Seraphim now the Bible calls them living creatures Ellen White interprets the living creatures as what cherubim and Seraphim we studied this in one of the previous lectures and then she identifies the other group that is there notice she's identified the throne the cherubim and the Seraphim which are the four living creatures and now she's going to identify the 24 elders she says the commanders of the angel hosts the sons of God the representatives of the unfallen worlds are assembled the heavenly Council before which Lucifer had accused God and his son the representatives of those sinless realms over which Satan have lost plot to establish his Dominion all are there to welcome the Redeemer they are eager to celebrate his triumphs and to glorify their king question are the twenty-four elders those that resurrected with Christ and went to heaven when Jesus went to heaven it can't be because the 24 elders which are angelic according to what we identified last time from great controversy and several other statements are already there in Revelation chapter 4 before Jesus arrives in chapter 5 now she continues saying but he waves them back that is Jesus waves back to heavenly hosts not yet he cannot now receive the Coronet of glory in royal robe he enters into the presence of his father revelation simply identifies him as the one who was seated on the throne he's never called the Father only white his interpreting she's saying the one that the throne is the father there's a rainbow over the throne the four living creatures are cherubim and Seraphim and she's saying that the twenty-four elders are the commanders of the heavenly hosts they are the sons of God Wow but there's one more symbol in Revelation chapter 4 in in Revelation chapter 5 notice what what she continued saying but he waves them back not yet he cannot now receive the Coronet of glory and royal robe he enters into the presence of his father he points to his wounded head the pierced side the marred feet he lifts his hands bearing the print of the nails how is Jesus presenting himself revelation 5 it says that there is in the midst of the throne a lamb as though it had been slain Ellen White does not speak of a lamb she's interpreting what the lamb means it's Jesus who is pretty and he's in himself there are you with me he points to the tokens of his triumph he presents to God the wave sheaf those raised with him as representatives of that great multitude who shall come forth from the grave and his second coming he approaches the father with whom there is joy over one sinner that repents who rejoices over one with singing before the foundations of the earth were laid the father and the son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan they had classed their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race this pledge Christ has fulfill we talked about this in our second presentation when upon the cross he cried out it is finished he addressed the father the compact had been fully carried out now he declares father it is finished I have done thy will o my god I have completed the work of redemption if they justice is satisfied I will that they also whom thou has given me be with me where I am the voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied Satan is vanquished notice it doesn't say that Satan will be vanquished she says Satan is vanquished Christ's toiling struggling ones on earth are accepted in the beloved before the heavenly angels listen carefully before the heavenly angels and the representatives of the unfallen worlds are they two different groups yes they're two different groups before the heavenly angels and the representatives of the unfallen worlds they are declared justified that is God's people where he is they're his church shall be mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other the father's arms encircle his son and the word is given let all the angels of God worship Him with joy unutterable rulers and principalities and powers acknowledge the supremacy of the Prince of life the angel hosts prostrate themselves before him while the glad shout feels all the courts of heaven now she's going to quote revelation 5 verse 12 in case you were wondering whether she was actually dealing with revelation 5 worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing revelation 5 verse 12 songs of triumph mingled with the music from angel harps till heaven seems to overflow with joy and praise love has conquered the lost is found heaven rings with voices and lofty strains proclaiming blessing and honor and glory and power beyond to him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb forever and ever revelation 5 and verse 13 standing with the 24 elders are their angelic but they're not part of the Angelico's they are not human now when Jesus ascended there was somebody missing there you say well who was missing do you know who was missing that wasn't present there Satan was not there who would have normally have been there when the heavenly council was gathered together for an event that involved planet Earth Satan would have been there but when you read revelation 4 or 5 Satan isn't there and the question is why wasn't Satan there the Bible makes it clear John chapter 12 verses 31 to 33 this is happening on Palm Sunday just before the death of Christ Jesus was gonna die just five days later and I want you to notice what Jesus said about the devil John 12:31 233 Jesus says now is the judgment of this world now the ruler of this world will be what will be cast out interesting Jesus say now the ruler of this world who is the ruler of this world at that time the devil will be cast out notice its future now what was going to cast him out he says and I if I am lifted up from the earth will draw all peoples to myself this he signified this he said signifying by what death he would die so why didn't Satan go representing planet Earth before the heavenly council like he did in the book of Job like he did in Chronicles as we studied before because that the earth now had a new ruler and king who had defeated the one who took the throne from Adam several years later John in the book of Revelation is reminiscing about the casting out of Satan Revelation chapter 12 Revelation chapter 12 and verse 12 we find this actually verses 10 through 12 but long you read a portion of that passage then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven this is happening at the cross according to the context now salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ have come for the accuser of our brethren who accused them before our God day and night has been what has been cast down was the devil an accuser of the Brethren in the days of job you better believe he was but now the accuser of the Brethren at the cross was cast down so the question is who then is the new representative of planet Earth it is Jesus Christ let's notice a few details about Christ to see if he fits the same description of the elders 1st Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 22 1st Corinthians chapter 15 verse 22 jesus is being compared to the first Adam it says there for as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive to Adams being compared Jesus is the new Adam the last Adam the second Adam if you please 1st Corinthians chapter 15 in verse 45 and so it is written the first man Adam was made a living soul the last Adam was made a quickening spirit one more text Romans chapter 5 and verse 18 therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all unto justification of life so Jesus is spoken of as Adam as the last Adam now is Jesus called the son of God he most certainly is notice Luke chapter 1 in verse 35 Luke chapter 1 verse 35 not that Jesus wasn't the son of God before but when he became a man he became the son of God in a special sense in the sense of his humanity notice Luke 1 verse 35 this is the Annunciation to Mary and the angel answered in said to her the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called what shall be called the Son of God was Adam called the son of God yes he was a man that came into existence by creation now Jesus is called the Son of God because he's the second Adam he comes into the world not as other human beings come in but as a direct creation of God placing him in the womb of Mary Ellen White says in vol 1 of selected messages page 226 that when Jesus became incarnate she says he became the son of God in a new sense that is speaking about Luke 1 verse 35 thus he stood in our world the son of God yet allied by birth to the human race and so Jesus is the last Adam Jesus is the Son of God let me ask you is Jesus also king at present does he sit on his throne yes he does go with me in Hebrews chapter 4 in verse 16 Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 16 here we find the Apostle Paul whom I believed to be behind the book of Hebrews let us therefore come boldly to the what to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need now Jesus is king but he's king of the kingdom of grace later on he will be king of the kingdom of glory notice in the book God's amazing grace page 68 Ellen White amplifies what we just read from Hebrews 4 she says the throne of grace represents the kingdom of grace the existence of a throne implies the existence of a kingdom and so Jesus is the new king and he has a kingdom and he's crowned with a crown over this realm in Acts of the Apostles page 38 Ellen White makes this interesting comment about what happened to Jesus when he went to heaven and when he was finally installed as our hyper this is what she says Christ's ascension to heaven was the signal that his followers were to receive the promised blessing for this they were to wait before they entered upon their work they were to wait for the Holy Spirit she continued saying when Christ passed within the heavenly gates we just read in desire of Ages about that notice this he was enthroned amidst the adoration of angels what would happen with Jesus he was what enthroned so he must have become a what a king she continued saying as soon as this ceremony was completed the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples and rich currents and Christ was indeed glorified even with the glory which he had with the father from all eternity the Pentecostal outpouring was heavens communication that the Redeemers inauguration was accomplished according to his promise he had sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to his followers asked now listen listen to this as a token that he had as priest and King received all authority in heaven and on earth and was the anointed one over his people question was Jesus the new head and representative of the human race I'm just going to give you this reference for you to read because time is of the essence if you go to Psalm 8 verses three to five that we already read before remember that it speaks about Adam being crowned with glory and splendor and being given Dominion clearly the context of Psalm eight is talking about the creation of Adam but the interesting detail is that the same passage from Psalm eight is quoted in Hebrews two verses 5 through 9 but in Hebrews 2 5 through 9 that passage that is applied to Adam in Psalm 8 is applied to Jesus Christ in the book of Hebrews which means that Jesus is the new Adam created to occupy the position of Adam to redeem the position that men lost at the beginning allow me to read you also some statements from Ellen White isn't it amazing how Ellen White is so much in harmony with listen to this signs of the times June 11 18 94 she says the human race does not stand in the righteous righteousness of character which Adam possessed at his creation although neglect to keep the requirements of God is sin and the wages of sin is death yet there is no claim made that man may have eternal life except through the obedience and righteousness of Jesus Christ now listen who is the representative and head of all humanity here's another one signs of the times January 16 1896 she says Jesus humbled himself clothing his divinity with humanity in order that he might stand as the head and representative of the human family and by both precept and example condemned sin in the flesh and give the lie to Satan's charges let's read a couple more manuscript 126 1901 she says as representative of the Fallen rais'd Christ passed over the same ground on which Adams stumbled and fell by a life of perfect obedience to God's law Christ redeemed man from the penalty of Adams disgraceful fall and one final one the gospel Herald March 1 1901 she says Christ was to suffer in our behalf standing at the head of humanity as representative of the race so in whose place is Jesus standing now in the place that originally was given to whom to Adam and was taken away from whom from the devil she says he was to work out the character which every follower of his is to work out through the provision he has made his infinite sacrifice his left life and death on earth now we need to answer one final question before we bring this to a close have you understood what we studied it's amazing how when you study Scripture and you study the spear of prophecy together how everything becomes clear I want to end with one question will Adam ever be placed on the throne that he lost again I want to read you a thrilling passage that is found in the book great controversy page 647 this is the if this doesn't make your skin tingle nothing nothing we'll listen to what she says she's speaking about when the two atoms meet eventually in heaven she says as the ransomed ones are welcomed to the City of God their rings out upon the air an exultant cry of adoration the two atoms are about to meet the Son of God is standing with outstretched arms to receive the father of our race the beam whom he created who sinned against his maker and for whose sin the marks of the crucifixion are borne upon the Savior's form as am discerns the prints of the cruel nails he does not fall upon the bosom of his Lord but in humiliation casts himself at his feet crying worthy worthy is the Lamb that was slain tenderly the Savior lifts him up and bits him look once more upon that Eden home from which he has so long been exiled after his expulsion from Eden Adams life on earth was filled with sorrow every dying leaf every victim of sacrifice every blight upon the failed fair face of nature every stain upon man's purity was a fresh reminder of his sin terrible was the agony of remorse as he beheld iniquity abounding and in answer to his warnings met the reproaches cast upon himself as the cause of sin you can imagine people say oh we're in this mess because of you if you hadn't sent we wouldn't be in this mess she continued saying by the way those were my inspiration she continued saying with patient humility Adam bore for nearly a thousand years the penalty of transgression faithfully did he repent of his sin and trust in the merits of the promised Savior and he died in the hope of a resurrection now listen to this the Son of God redeemed May failure and fall and now through the work of atonement Adam is reinstated in his first Dominion is Adam going to occupy the throne again yes he is going to occupy the throne again and it's all because Jesus had to come down and fight against the tempter against he who took the throne from Adam he had to take the throne from the devil so that he could give it back to Adam and to all of those courts that Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord I don't know folks about you but it's comforting to me to know that that old accuser who always was going to heaven to accuse God's people to give him a black eye to make them look bad has been cast down and now planet Earth is represented is represented by Jesus Christ the Bible tells us that we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous it's comforting I'm sure for the heavenly intelligence also that they don't have to put up with the rants and ravings of this foe of God but you know the conflict in this world continues doesn't it you know right after that text that I read in Revelation chapter 12 where it says the accuser of our brethren has been cast down it says it says rejoice ye heavens and ye who dwell in them notice ye heavens and ye who dwell in them you're talking about not only one world this world you're talking about heavens and all those who dwell in them in all of the heavens ah but then the tone changes because he goes on to say whoa notice rejoice heaven the past is gone hoho but woe to the inhabitants of the earth or this in the sea for the devil has come down to you because he then cast out right the devil has come down to you having great wrath because he knows that his time is short so folks the 24 elders play a very important function in the universe God has a representative style of government and the worlds of the universe have their representative in the heavenly Council God knows everything God could dictate everything God could do everything but God cares about what his creatures think and God involves them in his administration of the universe what a wonderful God we have now we have some technical matters that we have to deal with yet and this will be in our next lecture now Pastor wait a minute doesn't revelation 5 9 and 10 tell us that the 24 elders were redeemed from the earth and that they shall reign upon the earth how can you say then that the 24 elders are angels if if it says there clearly that the 24 elders were redeemed from the earth and they shall they shall reign upon the earth is it perhaps that the translation that we find in the King James Version is not the proper incorrect translation in our next study together we will deal with some technical matters that are very important to define in this study that we are going through [Music] [Music] [Music] you

Channel: secretsunsealed

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Keywords: SUMTV, SUMtv, SecretsUnsealed, Secrets Unsealed, 24 Elders, War Hero, Revelation, Earth Two Representatives, Earth 2 Representatives, heaven, God, Jesus, Pastor Stephen Bohr, Pastor Bohr, Pastor Borh, Pastor Esteban, Pastor Esteban Bohr

Id: W-6FEMEWBBk

Length: 58min 34sec (3514 seconds)

Published: Thu Jan 31 2019